Paisley churches
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Paisley has many churches of architectural and historic interest. Here are a few highlights.
- The Laigh Kirk
- The High Church
- Martyrs' Parish Church and Martyrs' Memorial Church
- St Matthew's Church of the Nazarene
- The Gaelic Church
The Laigh Kirk (or "Low Church") in New Street is the second oldest church in Paisley, after the Abbey. It was designed and built in 1736 by James Baird and John Hart. Its design has been described as both "crudely Gothic" and "robustly Scottish". The church was attached to the Church of Scotland until 1820 when it became a Secession Church, and then in 1850 the building was sold to the Evangelical Union Congregationalist Church. The church ceased to be a place of worship in 1981 and is now Paisley Arts Centre.
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The High Church is situated at the top of Church Hill in the centre of Paisley, and is a prominent landmark. It was built around 1750 and was designed by John Whyte, a member of the town council. Seats in the new church were allocated by public auction! The magnificent steeple was added later in 1770, and rises in five stages to an obelisk spire. On the ground close to the church there are symbols embedded in the whinstone pavement. The symbols are of a handkerchief, a pair of glasses and a heart. Local legend says that this marks the spot where a stonemason fell while working on the spire.
In 1991 the congregation of the High Church joined with the congregations of St John's Church and Paisley Congregational Church to form the Oakshaw Trinity Church.
In 1991 the congregation of the High Church joined with the congregations of St John's Church and Paisley Congregational Church to form the Oakshaw Trinity Church.
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Martyrs' Parish Church is at Woodside and was built in 1835. Martyrs' Memorial Church is in Broomlands Street and was built in 1848.
The martyrs for whom these churches are named were James Algie and John Park, who in 1685 refused to swear an oath renouncing the Covenant and accepting the King's supremacy in all civil and religious matters. They were hanged at Paisley cross, and buried in common ground at Gallowgreen in the town's west end. Later they were re-interred in the first grave in what became Martyrs' Parish Church graveyard. A monument in their honour was erected there in 1835.
In 1843, the minister of Martyrs' Parish Church, along with many other ministers and a portion of the congregation, split from the Church of Scotland to become part of the Free Church of Scotland. They continued to worship in the church until expelled from the building in 1846. They worshipped in a variety of hired venues until their new church was built in 1848 in Broomlands Street. It was originally named the Free Martyrs' Church, later becoming the Martyrs' United Free Church, and then finally the Martyrs' Memorial Church in 1929.
The martyrs for whom these churches are named were James Algie and John Park, who in 1685 refused to swear an oath renouncing the Covenant and accepting the King's supremacy in all civil and religious matters. They were hanged at Paisley cross, and buried in common ground at Gallowgreen in the town's west end. Later they were re-interred in the first grave in what became Martyrs' Parish Church graveyard. A monument in their honour was erected there in 1835.
In 1843, the minister of Martyrs' Parish Church, along with many other ministers and a portion of the congregation, split from the Church of Scotland to become part of the Free Church of Scotland. They continued to worship in the church until expelled from the building in 1846. They worshipped in a variety of hired venues until their new church was built in 1848 in Broomlands Street. It was originally named the Free Martyrs' Church, later becoming the Martyrs' United Free Church, and then finally the Martyrs' Memorial Church in 1929.
The Martyrs' Memorial Church is still a place of worship today, whilst Martyrs' Parish Church is now the base for the 7th Paisley JNI (John Neilson Institution) Scout Group.
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St Matthew's Church of the Nazarene in Gordon Street was originally known as St George's East. It was built in 1905-1907 in a mix of Gothic and Art Nouveau styles by Paisley architect W D McLennan, who was a member of the congregation. The church is regarded by many as Scotland's most significant Art Nouveau church. McLennan originally intended the design to include a massive spire but it was decided late in 1907 to abandon this costly embellishment.
The church suffered from a period of neglect until the early 1990s when a significant renovation programme restored it to its former glory.
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The Gaelic Church in Oakshaw Street was built in 1793 by Highlanders who were living in Paisley, and services were conducted in Gaelic. Originally it was not recognised as a separate parish church and came under the control of the High Church. It was granted full status in 1874, and from then on was known as St Columba's. In 1959 the congregation moved to a newly built church in Foxbar. The empty church in Oakshaw was used for a time by the social work department, and was then converted into private flats.
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For more information on these or other historic buildings in Renfrewshire, contact the Local Studies Library by:
- email: locstuds.els@renfrewshire.gov.uk
- phone: 0141 889 2360
- fax: 0141 887 6468
- write to:
Reference and Local Studies Library
Central Library
68 High Street
Paisley
PA1 2BB



